Improvement in harness-saddle trees



2 Sheets-$heet 1.

S. E. TOMPKINS.

HARNESS SADDLE TREES.

A m 1 1 MA 3 v t m c o I d fl Av t n 6 u a D.

WITNESSES:

NVPETERS. PHOTQ-UTHQCRAPHER, WASHNGTON, D C

2 SheetsSheet 2.. S. E. TOMP-KINS. HARNESS SADDLE TREES. 'No. 182,871.Patented 0ct..3,1876.

ATTORNEYS.

N.PETER5, PHOTO-LITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTONv D C UNITED STATES PATENTQFFIOE.

SAMUEL E. TOMPKINS, OF SING SING, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS-SADDLE TREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,871, dated October3, 1876; application filed March 13, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, SAMUEL E. Tomrxnvs, of Sing'Sing, in the county ofWestchester and State New York, have invented a new and ImprovedHarness-Saddle Tree, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is a contrivance of the elevated bridge for the terret, inconnection with what is known as the flat tree, so as to allow of theflap being arranged to better advantage and being better supported abovethe bridge than in common elevated bridge-trees.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved harness-saddle, takenon the line a: a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 is asection, showing the application of the invention when the backhandpasses loosely over the top of the tree, the section being taken on line3 y of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan of the arrangement represented in Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a section, and Fig 6 a plan, showing the application of theinvention when a bar is employed to form a contiuous shoulder or jog thewhole length of the bridge.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the elevated bridge, which is raised above the level of thetree-plate B, to support the base 0 of the terret. D is the terret-nut;E, the backhand; F, the opening at the upper end of the bridge for thebackhand; G, the ribs, flanges, or abutments supporting the bridge; H,the shoulders or jogs formed by the upper ends of these ribs forshoulders of the flaps, to draw against, as represented in Fig. 2, tosustain it against downward strain, and J represents the bar extendingfrom one to the other and connecting the shoulders H, to support thestrap all the way between the shoulders, when desired.

This elevated bridge has been used heretofore in trees having a grooveup and down the middle portion, and strengthening-ribs alongside of thegroove, which have either extended entirely over the top of the plates,or up to, or near to, the top, making it necessary to cut out the middleportion of the flap to fit it along the outside of the ribs, whichmaterially diminishes the breadth of leather that can be used, and itdoes not allow of supporting the flaps against the downward strainexcept by the fastenings by which it is attached to the plate.

My invention consists of the strengtheningrihs G, constructed so as toterminate at the upper end of the opening F, and form a supstantial jogor shoulder, H, either with or without the solid connection J with theplate, as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, so that it is only necessary tocut out of the flap the space necessary for the bridge, leaving thewhole breadth above the bridge intact, and so arranging it that it hassubstantial support against pulling downward on the tree against theshoulders H and J. Figs. 3 and 4 show how this arrangement applies, whenit may be desirable to have the back-strap E extend over the top of thetree, in which case the flap will still be supported by the shoulders H,and the width of the marginal portions of the flap remaining after themiddle portion is out out for the back-strap will be increased in ameasure equal to the thickness of the ribs, as clearly shown in the planview, Fig. 6.

No other tree having an elevated bridge cast with it allows of havingthe flap entire or solid, or all in one piece above the bridge, and, atthe same time, aflords supportingshoulders to protect the flap againstdownward strain, and leaving room for the backhand. The kind having theribs extending over the top will not allow it; and if the ribs were cutoft at the top of the bridge, the middle portion of the flap would haveto be cut out so far above the bridge, to allow room for the upper endof the backhand, that it could not be supported by the bridge.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A saddle-tree plate, having a bridge for theterret-screw, constructed with jogs or shoulders H only, or the same anda bar, J, connecting them at the upper side of the bridge to support theflap against downward strain, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a saddle-tree, having an elevated bridge forthe terret, of a flap, made solid the entire breadth of the tree abovethe bridge, and having support against downward strain by shoulders Honly, or H and J, substantially as specified.

SAML. E. TOMPKINS. Witnesses:

T. B. MOSHER,

ALEX. T. ROBERTS.

